Editing Heterarchy (section)

==Information studies==
Numerous observers{{who|date=January 2015}} in the information sciences have argued that heterarchical structure processes more information more effectively than hierarchical design. An example of the potential effectiveness of heterarchy would be the rapid growth of the heterarchical [[Wikipedia]] project in comparison with the failed growth of the [[Nupedia]] project.<ref>Bruns (2008), ''Blogs, Wikipedia, Second Life and Beyond: From Production to Produsage'', pp. 108–9.</ref> Heterarchy increasingly trumps hierarchy as complexity and rate of change increase.

Informational heterarchy can be defined as an organizational form somewhere between hierarchy and network that provides horizontal links that permit different elements of an organization to cooperate whilst individually optimizing different success criteria.  In an organizational context the value of heterarchy derives from the way in which it permits the legitimate valuation of multiple skills, types of knowledge or working styles without privileging one over the other. In information science, therefore, heterarchy, [[responsible autonomy]] and [[hierarchy]] are sometimes combined under the umbrella term [[Triarchy (theory) | Triarchy]].

This concept has also been applied to the field of [[archaeology]], where it has enabled researchers to better understand social complexity. For further reading see the works of Carole Crumley.

The term heterarchy is used in conjunction with the concepts of [[holon (philosophy)|holon]]s and [[holarchy]] to describe individual [[system]]s at each level of a holarchy.